Journey with us through the Book of Jonah in our "The Minors" series. Discover how this 8th-century prophet attempted to flee from God's call to preach to Israel's feared enemy, the Assyrians.

Key Points:

• Jonah was Israel's first "short-term missionary," called to preach outside his nation
• The Assyrians were brutal enemies known for extreme violence
• Jonah initially refuses God's call and attempts to flee
• After the storm and fish incident, Jonah receives a second chance
• Nineveh was so vast it required a three-day visit to fully explore
• The people of Nineveh surprisingly respond with immediate repentance
• The story reveals God's mercy extends beyond national boundaries

Part of our continuing exploration of the Minor Prophets.

In this compelling final episode of our Nahum series within "The Minors," we tackle the profound difference between human anger and divine wrath. From Will Smith's Oscar slap to Jesus clearing the temple, we explore why our understanding of anger often misses the mark when it comes to God's character.

Key insights include:

• Why comparing God's anger to human outbursts fundamentally misunderstands divine justice
• How God's wrath actually demonstrates His love
• Why modern "tolerance" falls short of biblical love
• The danger of surface-level Bible reading when it comes to difficult topics
• How understanding God's anger helps us better appreciate His mercy and grace

This episode challenges our tendency to water-ski over scripture's deeper truths and calls us to wrestle with the full character of God - not just the comfortable parts. Perfect for those seeking to move beyond shallow spirituality to a more mature understanding of faith.

Part of our ongoing series examining the Minor Prophets, this episode concludes our study of Nahum while setting up important themes we'll continue to explore throughout the series.

Continue our journey through "The Minors" devotional series as we tackle one of the most challenging aspects of God's character - His divine anger and justice. In this thought-provoking episode, we explore how the book of Nahum, ironically written as a message of comfort, challenges our modern sensibilities about God's nature.

We'll unpack:

• The difference between human vengeance and divine retribution
• Why God's anger isn't an emotional outburst but perfect justice
• How Nahum's message of comfort for the oppressed involves judgment for oppressors
• The balance between God's goodness and His righteousness
• Why Christians can embrace grace while understanding God's justice

This episode helps bridge the gap between our contemporary discomfort with an angry God and the biblical truth that God's justice is an essential part of His goodness. Whether you're struggling with these concepts or seeking deeper understanding, this discussion offers valuable insights into one of the Bible's most misunderstood themes.

Part of our ongoing series examining the Minor Prophets, this episode demonstrates why ancient prophecies about God's justice remain deeply relevant today.

Step into the dramatic world of the 7th century BC as we continue our "The Minors" devotional series with a fascinating look at the historical backdrop of Nahum's prophecy. Today's episode reveals the high-stakes conflict between David and Goliath proportions - the small kingdom of Judah versus the terrifying Assyrian Empire.

Discover:

• The psychological warfare tactics of the Assyrians, including their horrifying "pyramids of skulls"
• How Judah's King Hezekiah dared to stand up against Assyrian extortion
• The historical context behind Nahum's "warrior hymn" prophecy
• Why Nahum's message about God's justice was so powerful for its time

This episode provides crucial historical context that helps us understand why Nahum wrote about God's wrath against one of history's most ruthless empires. Learn how this ancient message about God's justice against tyranny remains relevant for modern believers.

Part of our ongoing series exploring the Minor Prophets, this episode builds on our previous discussions and sets up tomorrow's deeper look at how we reconcile God's goodness with His righteous anger.

Join us for another enlightening episode in "The Minors" devotional series as we dive into the often-overlooked book of Nahum. This episode tackles the challenging topic of God's wrath and judgment, while exploring the fascinating historical account of Marcion - a second-century bishop's son who literally tried to cut these "uncomfortable" parts out of the Bible.

Discover why:

• Many Christians today unknowingly follow "Marcionism" by avoiding the Old Testament
• The book of Nahum's direct approach to God's wrath matters for modern believers
• The passages that make us uncomfortable might be the ones we need most

This episode challenges our modern tendency to separate the "angry God" of the Old Testament from the "loving God" of the New Testament. Whether you're a seasoned Bible student or just beginning your journey, this discussion will help you wrestle with important questions about God's character and justice.

Part of our ongoing series examining the Minor Prophets, this episode builds on our previous discussions of Hosea, Joel, Obadiah, and Habakkuk.

📖 In this powerful conclusion to our study of Habakkuk in "The Minors" devotional series, we witness an extraordinary transformation: from a prophet questioning God's justice to one choosing radical faith in the midst of devastation.

God responds to Habakkuk's complaints with a profound vision, promising that "the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the water covers the sea" (Habakkuk 2:14). Through five powerful "woes," God addresses:

• Unfair economic practices exploiting the poor
• The abuse of slave labor
• Leaders choosing pleasure over justice
• The corruption of power
• The emptiness of idolatry

But the most striking moment comes in Habakkuk's final response. Even if everything fails—crops, livestock, and all material security—he makes a revolutionary choice: "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord." This ancient prophet shows us how to find strength and even joy when our world seems to be falling apart.

The message culminates in the New Testament revelation: a God who doesn't just answer our questions about suffering, but enters into it with us through Jesus Christ.

Subscribe for more episodes in our Minor Prophets series as we continue to uncover timeless wisdom for modern challenges.

📖 In today's powerful episode of "The Minors" devotional series, we continue our journey through Habakkuk by examining the fascinating parallel with the book of Job. We unpack a surprising truth: these stories aren't just about understanding suffering—they're about testing faith.

We dive deep into Job's story, but with a crucial twist you might have missed. While we often think of Job as a treatise on suffering, it's actually a gripping drama about faith under fire. As readers, we find ourselves caught up in Job's demand for divine justice, forgetting that we know something Job doesn't—the heavenly conversation that started it all.

Key insights from this episode:

• God's challenging response to why bad things happen to good people
• The divine call for us to be part of the solution to suffering
• A fresh perspective on Job that changes everything
• The parallel themes between Job and Habakkuk
• How these ancient texts ask us not "Why does God allow suffering?" but "How will we respond when suffering comes?"

Join us as we explore how these timeless stories challenge our perspective on faith, suffering, and our role in God's bigger picture.

Subscribe for more episodes in our Minor Prophets series as we continue to unpack these profound biblical narratives.

📖 In this thought-provoking episode of "The Minors" devotional series, we tackle one of life's biggest questions: Why does God allow evil and suffering? Through the lens of Habakkuk's ancient complaints, we explore this timeless struggle that has challenged philosophers, theologians, and everyday believers for centuries.

We examine the classic "Problem of Evil" posed by Epicurus: If God is all-powerful and all-good, why doesn't He stop evil? But rather than getting lost in philosophical arguments, we focus on practical wisdom for those wrestling with pain and suffering in their own lives.

Key insights from this episode:

• Why philosophical answers often fall short for those who are hurting
• The importance of presence over explanations in times of suffering
• How different worldviews, including Western secularism, grapple with evil
• A challenging perspective on the question "Why do bad things happen to good people?"
• The surprising way some people find meaning and growth through hardship

Whether you're personally struggling with suffering or supporting someone who is, this message offers biblical perspective on life's toughest questions.

Subscribe for more episodes in our Minor Prophets series as we continue to explore Habakkuk's honest dialogue with God.

📖 In this powerful episode of "The Minors" devotional series, we dive deep into the raw and honest book of Habakkuk. Written 3,000 years ago, this minor prophet's questions are strikingly relevant today: Where is God when suffering occurs? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why does injustice seem to prevail?

Habakkuk boldly brings two major complaints before God:

• First, he demands to know why God allows corruption, violence, and injustice to continue in Judah
• Second, he questions God's decision to use the wicked Babylonians as instruments of divine judgment

Join us as we explore this unique prophetic book where, instead of speaking to the people on God's behalf, Habakkuk speaks directly to God about the hard questions we all face. Whether you're wrestling with personal trials or trying to make sense of global suffering, this timeless message speaks to the heart of human experience and faith.

🎯 Key Themes:

• Wrestling with God's justice
• Understanding divine timing
• Finding faith in times of confusion
• Dealing with unanswered prayers

Subscribe for new episodes in our Minor Prophets series as we uncover ancient wisdom for modern times.

In this final episode on Obadiah, we uncover the chilling fate of the Edomites - an ancient civilization so consumed by pride they reportedly worshipped themselves. Their story serves as a sobering warning about pride's destructive power in our own lives.

Key insights from today's episode:

• How the Edomites' self-confidence led to their complete downfall
• The fascinating archaeological discovery about their unique form of self-worship
• Why pride is like an onion - the more layers you peel back, the more you find
• The ironic trap of becoming "proud of recognizing our own pride"
• How pride can blind us to our own condition and lead to godlessness

Through Obadiah's prophecy, we learn that no amount of strategic location, wealth, or powerful friends can save us when pride becomes our downfall. This timeless message challenges us to examine our hearts and cultivate gratitude instead of self-importance.

Concluding our study of Obadiah in The Minors series, this episode offers practical steps for recognizing and combating pride in our lives.